Higher seeds dominate

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Top-seeded Maryland pulled away in the second half, but struggled to put away Coppin State, 80-66 Sunday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Top-seeded Maryland pulled away in the second half, but struggled to put away Coppin State, 80-66 Sunday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Only once had a No. 1 seed lost in the opening round of the women's tournament, and with 17 minutes left in the game, the mighty Terrapins were in danger of becoming the second such victim.

Crystal Langhorne had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Marissa Coleman scored 17 and Laura Harper had 14 for the Terrapins (31-3), who will face No. 8 seed Nebraska on Tuesday in the second round of the Spokane Regional.

Coppin State made more field goals (27-24) than the Terrapins, had fewer turnovers (16-15) and played with far more fervor. Were it not for a 28-10 advantage at the foul line and a 42-26 rebounding edge,

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Nebraska led the entire game and by 15 in the second half, then held off a furious comeback by Xavier.

Kelsey Griffin matched a season-high with 26 points for the eighth-seeded Cornhuskers (21-11). Tay Hester had 13 points and Cory Montgomery 12 to help Nebraska earn a matchup with the winner of Sunday's game between top-seeded Maryland and Coppin State.

Jerri Taylor scored 19 points for Xavier (24-9), the Atlantic 10 champions. It was the third straight one-and-out appearance for the Musketeers since they reached the finals of the Mideast Regional in 2001.

Connecticut (33-1) will play either Texas or Minnesota on Tuesday night in the second round of the Greensboro regional.

Charde Houston added 14 points, Brittany Hunter had 11, and Renee Montgomery 10 as Connecticut shot 54 percent from the field. The victory served as a birthday present to Geno Auriemma, who turned 54 on Sunday.

The fifth-seeded Lady Monarchs (30-4), winners of an NCAA-record 17 consecutive Colonial Athletic Association titles, had lost five first-round games in a row, including two in their own Constant Convocation Center under their three national champion banners.

Danielle Campbell added 14 points for the Boilermakers (19-14), who will play the Tennessee-Oral Roberts winner.

Leilani Mitchell had 14 points, nine assists and six rebounds for Utah, but also had seven turnovers. Morgan Warburton led the Utes (27-5) with 18 points, and Kalee Whipple added 14 points and nine rebounds.

Duke has been to the NCAA tournament 15 times, including 14 straight, without losing its opening game. The Blue Devils (24-9) can earn a berth in the round of 16 for the 11th consecutive season by defeating either Arizona State or Temple on Tuesday.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Ashley Barlow had 20 points, a career-high 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists, leading fifth-seeded Notre Dame into the second round to face Oklahoma.

The Fighting Irish (24-8) overcame 40.6 percent shooting from the floor with a 49-26 advantage on the glass, pulling down nearly as many offensive rebounds (24) as defensive.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Fourth-seeded Oklahoma started the second half with a 13-0 run, then held off a late rally to beat No. 13 seed Illinois State.

Courtney Paris had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Sooners to extend her double-double streak to 91 consecutive games. Ashley Paris scored 13 points for Oklahoma (22-8), which escaped the upset bid to snap a three-game losing streak.

North Carolina 85, Bucknell 50

NORFOLK, Va. — Top-seeded North Carolina opened the game with a 21-2 run and coasted to a win over Bucknell.

LaToya Pringle had 19 points and Erlana Larkins and Rashanda McCants had 15 each as the Tar Heels — a No. 1 seed for the fourth year in a row — won their 14th straight. They will play Georgia in the second round Tuesday.

NORFOLK, Va. — Tasha Humphrey made a go-ahead turnaround jumper with 58 seconds left and Ashley Houts hit eight free throws in the final 41 seconds for Georgia. Angel Robinson led the eighth-seeded Bulldogs (23-9) with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Houts and Megan Darrah each scored 13. Houts also had 12 assists, while Humphrey finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

McCoughtry, the Big East's leading scorer at almost 24 points per game, came in averaging just 13 points in three NCAA tournament contests. She had 14 at halftime in this one.

Patrika Barlow had 11 assists and seven rebounds for Louisville (25-9), who are 12-2 since Jan. 30, and their only losses have come to West Virginia and top-ranked Connecticut in the Big East championship game.

Amanda Jackson led MAC champion Miami (23-11) with 22 points, 16 in the second half.